The man who was fatally hit by a car in Jurong West was partially blind, according to his family members.
What happened
The deceased, Keow Chan Liang, who was 47, was hit by a white Toyota Vellfire bearing a Malaysia licence plate along Jurong West Street 65 at around 9:20am on Mar. 21.
The vehicle was making a right turn when Keow was crossing from the left side.
The Vellfire driver did not stop and hit Keow.
The police and Singapore Civil Defence Force were alerted to the incident and Keow was conveyed to National University Hospital.
He was in a conscious state then, but succumbed to his injuries two days later on Mar. 23, the police told Mothership.
The Vellfire driver, 41, is assisting with investigations.
Internet rife with speculations
Based on a video of the incident uploaded onto the SG Road Vigilante – SGRV Facebook group, Keow appeared unaware that the Vellfire was approaching him.
Individuals, who presumably watched the video, were quick to criticise him in the video’s comment section, saying that he was likely on his phone and not paying attention to traffic.
Others suggested the opposite – that the driver of the Vellfire was using their phone when the incident happened.
Some also blamed Keow for jaywalking and/ or not knowing how to cross the road.
A handful even went so far as to suggest that Keow had intentionally crossed the road while the Vellfire was approaching so that he can profit from insurance claims.
Niece: Keow was semi-blind
Keow’s niece, Mei Ling, has since gone public to clarify what happened.
She wrote in the video’s comment section at around 6pm on Mar. 23 that her uncle was “semi-blind” and got around by counting the number of steps.
He was going to work at the time of the incident but had to deviate from his usual path due to road works.
Mei Ling added that Keow had “no choice but to walk an unfamiliar road to work” and pleaded for the public to show some compassion.
Mothership reached out to Mei Ling, who declined to be interviewed.
Wife: Keow was not carrying his cane because route was familiar
Keow’s wife, 46-year-old Kelly Wong, gave a similar account as Mei Ling when she spoke to The Straits Times (ST).
Wong said her husband was on his way to work and heading for the nearby bus stop.
She described him as a hardworking husband and filial son who wanted to make a living and provide for his family despite being half-blind.
He was generally in good health and worked as a masseur at a massage parlour in Clementi.
According to Wong, however, Keow was familiar with the route he was taking on the day of the incident and did not carry a cane.
“He would sometimes carry a cane with him because of his poor eyesight whenever he walked in unfamiliar places or at night, but he was familiar with the route he was walking along on Tuesday,” ST quoted her saying.
Wife: Doctor said Keow’s head injury too serious
When Keow was in the National University Hospital, Wong said the doctors told her that “there was too much damage done to [Keow’s] head” and the injury was so extensive that even surgery would not help.
Wong said she could not believe her ears and “broke down immediately”.
She managed to visit Keow one final time before he ultimately succumbed to his injuries on Mar. 23.
She said, “He was strong enough to hold out until he saw me.”
Keow is survived by Wong, his daughter, 12, and his mother, 78.
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Top image screenshot from SG Road Vigilante – SGRV/Facebook and Facebook
